Thanks to 'Hate Speech' laws, a person can be jailed upon the arbitrary claim that his/her writing is 'hate speech.' This is a very slippery slope...

One of the primary responsibilities of the federal government was to prevent monopolies. But the fields of law, medicine, manufacturing, communications, transportation, education -- you name it, all of them -- have turned into rackets. The oil-racket is probably the biggest in the world governing the majority of nations. Personal power, we are taught, is dangerous -- we should be following the rules of experts in their fields. Unions gradually hijack the industries they serve. The product or service is not important, just to require everyone to purchase the goods and services of these monopolies. The unholy alliance of government with big business compels the populace to pay for and accept these services 'for the common good.' I suppose if the common good is making pharmaceutical and power industries rich, then kudos for a job well done. But if not, ... well welcome to the Amerikan commune.

"Centralized, regulated systems look good on paper, and they may be effective as they start. However, market systems learn faster, because competitive innovation prevents a market from getting captured by the incumbents who have learned how to game the system."

Depending on the definition of 'altruism,' Rand makes a valid argument. How one defines their own 'duty' is the distinction. Am I dutiful out of threat or compulsion, or is it my pleasure or a commitment voluntarily made? 'Altruistic' reasons are given to justify power grabs -- it's an age-old racket exercised by ruling classes worldwide.

That was the intent. However, the 'transformation' of the federation of free republics of America (known as the united States of America) into a nationalized (not federal), centralized collection of states dependent upon the national government to create the currency for trade. The nationalization of the States after the Civil War and the progressive taxes and claims of Washington DC upon all the People and States led to the establishment of a central bank to whom ALL are beholden and perpetually in debt. Hamilton was instrumental in putting the US on this road to serfdom.

I know, right?!!

Love it!

Good comments above. "State-power" implies to me supremacy of the state over the individual. The Declaration of Independence negated the claims of the Church and State of England upon the PEOPLE. As far as I can tell, America is the only collection of States founded upon the rights of the individual for the protection of the people's freedom and responsibility to take care of themselves without compulsion from either side. (Switzerland may be an exception.) In the context of Statism, the quote rings true for me. The consolidation and centralization of power is the tendency of statism while independence and the distribution of power and responsibility respects the sovereignty of the People and the republican states formed out of republican counties. Dependence and obligations to the State can take on many forms of government, except in a free republic.

Robert, why not MAKE AN ARGUMENT for liberalism? You exhibit the very laziness and lack of responsibility this quote highlights ...

Robert, I would be interested in how you reached such a conclusion?

The cure? Stop consuming broadcast media. You are what you eat. Patrick Henry nails it, too.

Brilliantly simple!

To "rebel against the normal responsibilities of adulthood" is to demand servitude -- for all. When I was in school, I could hardly wait to 'grow up' and get out of there...

Since Jefferson called his party the Democratic-Republicans, I am willing to have 'democratic' as an adverb for a 'republican' form of government. A republican form of government can have many forms - democratic processes and principles have certainly been incorporated into America's version.

"The right to form their own beliefs" is the meat of the statement.

I like it. Note: "All of these are slapped on people with "politically incorrect" opinions in an attempt to silence YOU." Yes, calling someone else 'racist' is a way to shut ME up through intimidation. It is even theoretically possible for a covert program to introduce lots of racially charged protests to get the general populace to shut up, for fear of retribution. I take a risk walking around New York City with a Make America Great Again hat -- why? Because those tactics have been working. Political correctness has been shutting up A LOT of people -- hence the Trump revolution, when the 'silent' majority took a stand.

It should be remembered that the definition of a 'crime' is as an intentionally malicious act. An act is considered criminal if there is an intent to do harm -- mens rea. Causing harm alone does not constitute a crime -- it must be intentional. And who judges whether there was a criminal intent? The JURY. Not bureaucrats or school administrators. Hate speech is just another tactic to distract us from a republican form of government as chartered in the US Constitution. Hate speech laws in America are unconstitutional -- 'thought crimes' are an Obamanation.

'Hate speech' has been adopted from the European socialist governments. In America, "Congress shall make no law" abridging the right to free speech. That does not mean that anything spoken will have no consequences. I am responsible for what I say. If what I say causes real injury, then I am responsible for that. Who decides the line between 'dislike' and 'hate'? Who is to judge? This strikes at the heart of the socialist 'religion' -- they claim the same ideals as Christianity but through force -- just like the Catholics of old. The worship and pursuit of Power still remains -- and if you 'hate' that, you will be bound tighter due to your 'treason.'

Hateful speech has its own fruits -- better to learn from one's actions than to be protected from their consequences.

Indeed!

Whatever pays the bills. ;-)

My mother worked her way into the television and radio news business. I've been in many TV and radio news rooms and in the field helping shoot video (the equipment was big and heavy back then). I was privy to all the 'real' personalities of the TV news anchors (that my mother wanted so much to become) -- everyone was just so FAKE! Actors, all of them. People like my mother went out and got the story, but all stories are put through the filters set up by the owners -- absolutely, the purpose of the press was to PROMOTE favored views, not REPORT controversial news. You weren't hired unless you had the same 'bent' as the bosses. And I think that is as good as it's ever going to get. And that is why I don't watch it... ;-)

If schools would do any good... I think today, people should actively question and research every claim to one's self. Determine for yourself your response and be prepared to learn what you did not know. Not all 'schools' are the same, nor should they be. But schools of science and research can get politicized if their potential discoveries challenge the power of the schools' benefactors. The fields of medicine and energy have become highly regulated to protect the profits of huge conglomerates, so much so, that alternatives to pharmaceuticals and petroleum are buried deep.

I do not trust any 'educational' program that is simply a 'broadcast' of what to believe. I go to school to get my questions answered, to get trained in 'reality', not to be force-fed politically correct ideology at the expense of truth. BS does not provide any nutrient value -- and unless you have developed a taste for it, it ain't worth crap.

In the US, the government is always stirring up some conflict in order to declare a state of national emergency in which emergency powers are granted to the Executive while the Constitution is put on hold. The state of national emergency has not been lifted since 1934. The US has been essentially a fascist dictatorship with rigged elections (the choices decided by the wealthy political class) ever since The New Deal. How do you like it so far? Isn't it all it was promised to be? (!!)

Do 'Black Lives Matter' more? Or is that just my 'white privilege' talking ...

Depopulation is the stated goal of socialists worldwide. This is WAR!

Some discoveries -- particularly those that empower the individual -- are kept 'secret' in order to profit from them. Servitude is a racket, handed down throughout human history. The mastery of servitude is to convince the slaves they are serving God's purpose, to even love and defend their servitude. Thus the primary work in the search for Truth is routing out lies and ripping down veils. Empowerment of the individual threatens the powers-that-(should-not)-be. Secrets about electrical energy production, natural cures for cancer, solar cycles, and even the power of the mind -- the goal is to cause a knee-jerk reaction in the populace to disparage any challenge to the 'order' imposed on body, mind and soul. However, I do believe that silently people with a desire to know seek out and discover. Perhaps we are witnessing the next Renaissance, in which millions will posses the knowledge and understanding that liberates and empowers us. The lesson continues... ;-)